Yeast infection, also known as vaginal candidiasis, is a fungal infection that affects the vagina, vaginal opening, and possibly surrounding areas. This infection is characterized by increased discomfort in the vagina, accompanied by itchiness, sensitivity, and a burning sensation. A yeast infection is not an STD. Instead, it is a common infection that is caused by a natural, fungal substance in the body called yeast (candida). Learn about the best yeast infection medication for you in this article.
Yeast offers certain health benefits, such as optimal digestion, that keep the body functioning properly. In addition, a moderate number of fungi creates balance within the body. However, when the balance is disrupted, specific issues begin to form.
This can be caused by hormonal changes, which may occur during pregnancy or when a woman takes hormonal birth control pills. This is how yeast and other fungal infections, such as bacterial vaginosis are formed.
How Are Yeast Infections Treated?
The recommended vaginal yeast infection medication options may vary depending on the patient. There are common medications and treatments available to treat the symptoms.
However, a patient’s medical history may affect the prescription. For example, the most commonly prescribed candidiasis medication is oral fluconazole. It can work effectively for the typical woman but may harm pregnant women. In this case, the healthcare professional will search for an alternative.
It is always advisable for a patient to consult their doctor or attending healthcare professional to obtain suitable infection treatments for their infection.
What Treatments Are Available?
The treatment alternatives for candidiasis may come in various forms. Healthcare professionals may prescribe infection pills or cream to treat the infection.
There are also home remedies and over-the-counter (OTC) options for minor cases of candidiasis if a patient feels they are experiencing the symptoms of infection. Most of these treatment alternatives focus on retrieving the fungal balance within your body so that candidiasis can heal quickly and prevent it from returning.
How Do Candidiasis Medications Work?
The treatment for this infection varies with the severity of the case or the symptoms displayed. These treatments are prescribed to eliminate harmful yeast or candida that caused the infection. There are many different types of candidiasis medication.
First, there are the traditional pills or oral treatments, which patients can take over a few days until their infection is gone. Vaginal creams are also a common option. They are meant to be applied to the affected areas to eliminate the harmful yeast and prevent the infection from recurring.
How to Choose the Best Yeast Infection Treatments
We select the best treatments based on the following factors:
- Credibility or Reputation (based on customer reviews)
- Price
- The time needed to complete the treatments
- Type of treatment
All information is retrieved from reliable sources, such as The Infectious Diseases Society of America’s Clinical Practice Guidelines for managing candidiasis.
Our Picks for Yeast Infection Medication
Here is a list of our top candidiasis treatments. You chose these treatment choices based on all the factors listed above. We have spent hours carefully researching the components, effects, and capabilities.
However, we strongly advise that all individuals experiencing candidiasis consult with their attending physician or healthcare professional before proceeding with treatment.
Below are our top picks for treating the infection:
- Monistat 1
- Amazon Basic Care
- Vagistil
- Monistat 3
- Monistat 7
- Diflucan
- Probiotic Supplements
A Brief Look at the Best Candidiasis Drugs, Creams, and Other Treatments
Here’s a brief overview of our top picks in several categories:
Pills
Fluconazole (Diflucan) – These typically require a prescription from a doctor. These pills are often taken in a single dose to treat the infection. The recommended amount for consumption is 88 mg as a loading dose and 400 mg daily.
Topical Creams
Monistat 1 – This is one of the most popular one-day treatments for candidiasis today and is also the most effective option. Monistat-1 is a one-day treatment that contains 1,200 mg of miconazole nitrate. It relieves patients of symptoms like vaginal itch and soreness within a day.
Amazon Basic Care – This is the most affordable option for candidiasis treatments. Despite its price, it’s still highly efficient. It contains 1,200 mg of miconazole nitrate.
Vagistil – A single-dose vaginal treatment that contains 6.5% of tioconazole. It comes with a ready-to-use applicator and anti-itch wipes to ensure the user is comfortable throughout the treatment process.
Monistat-3 – The three-day version of Monistat-1. It contains smaller doses of miconazole nitrate, as treatment is split into several days instead of just one. Monistat-3 contains only 200 mg of miconazole nitrate per dose.
Monistat-7 – The lowest dosage for Monistat candidiasis medication. This is meant to be taken over seven days. Each dose contains only 100 mg of miconazole nitrate per use.
Clotrimazole Cream – According to Clotrimazole as a pharmaceutical: past, present, and future, clotrimazole was initially used to treat conditions like Athlete’s foot but has since been used to treat vaginal candidiasis as well. It treats yeast infections and prevents them from reoccurring by eliminating the harmful fungal components.
Other Treatment Alternatives
Probiotic Supplements – Probiotic supplements are meant to replenish and maintain the balance of good bacteria within the body. However, probiotics are considered more a preventive measure than an actual medication for candidiasis.
The Most Affordable Pick for Vaginal Yeast Infections
We recommend purchasing a dose of Amazon Basic Care if you’re on a budget. We have chosen Amazon Basic Care as the most cost-efficient option to treat infection symptoms because it offers high-quality performance for a comparably less high price.
In addition, this medication is one of the one-day treatments that offer fast-acting results and instant relief for patients.
Although it doesn’t come from a high-end brand, it is considered one of the best because of its high miconazole nitrate content (1,200 mg) and powerful effects in inhibiting fungal growth and infection.
Each purchase of Amazon Basic Care includes a vaginal itch cream and an applicator. Take note that the high dosage of miconazole nitrate may trigger a painful, burning feeling in the affected area.
Choosing the Best Yeast Infection Medication for You
Patients’ priority in choosing the best candidiasis treatment must be their needs and medical history. You can find several drugs available on the market. However, a patient’s body is subjective, and treatment efficacy may vary depending on how the patient’s body receives it.
Therefore, individuals diagnosed with any prior medical conditions before contracting the infection should consult with their attending healthcare professional before proceeding. The same can be said for individuals taking other medication forms.
If a patient’s body is sensitive to medication and prone to side effects, it would be better to choose milder options for yeast infection medication, such as Monistat-3 and Monistat-7.
These treatment choices come with smaller doses of miconazole nitrate, so it is less likely to induce harmful side effects on the patients’ bodies. However, it may take longer to recover compared to taking one-day and single-dose treatments for candidiasis.
Which is The Best Yeast Infection Medication?
The best yeast infection medication that we recommend is the Monistat-1. It is one of the best one-day treatments on our list of recommendations, along with the Amazon Basic Care. However, we chose Monistat-1 as the top option because it comes from a proven, tested, and trusted brand. In addition, it is one of the most commonly used treatments for vaginal yeast infections.
Monistat-1 contains a high dosage of miconazole nitrate, specifically 1,200 mg in a single dose. The manufacturer created this cream-based treatment to be strong and intense to eliminate the fungal substances within the affected areas. The strong dosage means the infection will most likely disappear much faster than other multi-day medications for the infection.
However, the high levels of miconazole nitrate can also cause a burning sensation once applied to the affected areas. This is due to the harsh and strong nature of the cream. It is generally the best yeast infection medication, but it may not be suitable for patients whose bodies are extra sensitive and prone to side effects.
Can You Prevent Yeast Infection?
According to the candidiasis guide, You can avoid the development of vaginal yeast infections by making some changes to your lifestyle and avoiding common mistakes:
- Avoid using scented products for the vaginal area (tampons, vaginal wash, deodorant, etc.)
- Avoid lingering in wet clothing. Change as soon as possible.
- Change sanitary napkins and tampons frequently during menstruation.
- Keep the body as clean and dry as possible at all times.
- Avoid warm clothing or underwear. Instead, go for loose cotton materials.
- Avoid taking antibiotics unless prescribed by a medical professional.
- Maintain healthy blood sugar levels. (For people with diabetes)
- Monitor any symptoms or changes while using birth control
What To Know Before You Buy a Yeast Infection Treatment
Candidiasis medication come in different forms and dosages. Before making the purchase, patients must consider the severity of their infection. Medication unsuitable for a patient’s present condition may only cause more harm.
Mild cases of the infection can be treated in the following ways:
One-day and multi-day treatments – There are many OTC medications on the market. Most of these medications can be purchased without a prescription, as they are only used to treat minor cases of candidiasis.
Oral treatments – You can usually heal mild cases of candidiasis through a single dosage of strong medication. The best candidiasis medication used in single-dose cases is fluconazole or Diflucan, which You can only purchase with a prescription.
A patient should monitor her condition to assess whether the treatments have been beneficial, harmful, or have done nothing. More severe cases of infection may require more vigorous and lengthy treatments. If symptoms persist after a prolonged time, it may be time to contact a medical professional to obtain a prescription for stronger medication.
What To Look for in a Quality Yeast Infection Medication
Before buying a medication, you must consider the following factors to assess its quality:
Brand Name – Buying medication from trusted brands like Monistat is always a good option.
Reputation – Research and see what people say about the medication online. Customer reviews are an effective way to test the quality based on other people’s experiences.
Price – The price range should suit the medication’s components and brand.
What Is the Fastest Yeast Infection Treatment?
One-day medication like Amazon Basic Care and Monistat-1 are the fastest antifungal treatment alternatives. These are examples of the best candidiasis medications for same-day treatments. They are equipped with high levels of miconazole nitrate, approximately 1,200 mg each.
These treatment alternatives are meant to treat candidiasis swiftly and vigorously, eliminating the harmful candida in the vaginal area in a shorter period than milder, multi-day treatments.
Yeast Infections and Health
Due to their symptoms, these fungal contaminations are uncomfortable and bring unpleasant sensations to the vaginal area. However, they are fairly easy to treat as long as the patient has access to the appropriate medication for their condition. Yeast infections are not life-threatening on their own.
However, a patient’s condition may worsen if they develop complications from an untreated contagion. In addition, if left untreated, candidiasis may cause complications to an individual’s overall health and wellness, namely:
- Digestive problems
- Oral Thrush
- Fatigue
- Skin infections
- Worsened symptoms
Yeast Infection Medication Tips
When looking for and using yeast contamination medication, there are certain tips that you can keep in mind to save you time, money, and effort during the recovery process. Here are some of the best examples:
- Avoid using tampons when using antifungal cream, as they can absorb the medicine from the affected area. Pads are a better option.
- Do not touch the affected area.
- The patient should abstain from sex while using candidiasis medication.
- Use an ice pack or other cool objects to relieve the itch from the vaginal area.
- There are cheaper but equally effective options on the market than prescription medicine.
How Boric Acid Can Treat Your Candidiasis
You can consider this an alternative candidiasis medication if the initial treatments do not provide any results. It is not used as often as options like yeast infection pills or creams.
This treatment option is mainly used to treat patients who suffer from repetitive or reoccurring contaminations. Patients with chronic cases may love this option, as it is cheaper than OTC or prescription medication.
The use of the acid as a treatment for yeast infection may cause the following side effects:
- Slightly painful, burning sensation in the vagina
- Watery discharge
- Unpleasant feelings in the vaginal area
- Hives
Alternative Treatments for Yeast Infection
Here are some of the most commonly used alternative treatment for patients who do not have access to candidiasis medication or want to try home remedies for candidiasis before consulting a medical professional. They are either meant to be consumed or inserted into the vaginal area as a form of at-home treatment.
- Probiotic supplements
- Essential oils (tea tree, coconut, oregano, etc.)
- Boric acid
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Vitamin C and E
After Candidiasis Medication
Once a patient recovers from the yeast infection, they must continue to monitor their condition in case the symptoms persist or return. The best aftercare method for candidiasis is to keep the vagina clean and dry.
Avoid wearing tight clothing that may cause unnecessary heat to the vaginal area, as heat promotes the growth of candida in the vagina. In addition, it’s best to ensure that the symptoms have fully disappeared before engaging in any sexual activity, as it may cause the yeast infection to return.
Can Hydrogen Peroxide Treat Candidiasis?
Hydrogen peroxide is a known yeast-killing agent. Studies are still being conducted to determine whether hydrogen peroxide is a reliable treatment for yeast infections. However, several patients have claimed that hydrogen peroxide has helped them eliminate their infections. You can make the application topically.
However, this may not be advised for vaginal infections. If a patient is experiencing a vaginal yeast infection, the best option would be to sit in a bath containing water and diluted hydrogen peroxide.
How Much You Can Expect To Spend to Treat Candidiasis
The cost of candidiasis medications may vary depending on the medication used. If a patient uses over-the-counter medication, the prices may go from $4 to $20. Prescription medicine like Diflucan is naturally more expensive and is priced at around $33.
Candidiasis medication can also be covered by health insurance. However, it usually includes only prescription medicine. Non-prescription medicine will come out of the patient’s pocket, even with health insurance.
Candidiasis Healing Signs
You will know that the yeast infection is going on when the following happens:
- Vaginal discharge no longer has a ‘cream cheese’ consistency.
- There is no more itching or discomfort in the affected area.
- There is no more discomfort, soreness, or redness in the vaginal area.
- There is no more pain or discomfort during urination.
When Is Longer-Term Treatment Considered?
Yeast infections should last for no more than two weeks with treatment. If symptoms persist after that timeframe, it is time to consult a professional for long-term treatment options. Other symptoms like reoccurring yeast infections (more than 4 in a year) could indicate underlying conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common are topical and oral treatments. For topical treatments, Monistat-1 is the most commonly prescribed. In addition, doctors often prescribe Diflucan for oral treatments.
Patients may try some of the home remedies we listed above, but yeast infections can only heal naturally if it is incredibly mild. Home remedies like hydrogen peroxide are a common treatment option for recurring yeast infections.
